The Madrid Jazz Festival Celebrates Its "Silver Wedding"

Madrid gets decked out to host the XXV Jazz Festival anniversary. It will start on 30th October, and will extend until 29th November. The three best double-bassists in the World (Stanley Clark, Marcus Miller y Victor Wooten) will open the Festival with a special concert at the Joy Eslava venue.

There are 17 foreseen concerts: 15 will take place in the Fernan Gómez Theatre and the other 2 in the Real Theatre; in addition to the Joy Eslava concerts and those in the Carlos Amberes Foundation, the Nicolás Salmerón Cultural Centre and the 17 other clubs gathered together for La Noche en Vivo Association. At this year's edition, the Festival counts on a wide musical and cinematographic programme.

As usual, the Fernan Gómez Theatre will be the principal venue of the Festival. It will host such important artists as Richard Galiano and Gonzalo Rubalcaba; Omara Portuondo together with Martirio and Jorge Drexler; Arturo Sandoval, or the first flamenco big band (the Perico Sambeat Flamenco Big Band). On the other hand, Antonio Serrano and Ivan Lins will inaugurate the Guirau Hall on 4th November. It will also play host to the vocal band Take 6 and the vocalists Laika Fatien and Kurt Elling, together with Laurence Hobgood, Clark Sommers y Ulises Owens Jr.

Some very famous people such as Chucho and Bebo Valdés will be playing at the Real Theatre. They'll present some of their latest works: "Siempre Juntos". Dianne Reeves (winner of four Grammys for 'the best jazz vocalist') and Barry Harris (one of the biggest talents in bebop style) will play in this theatre too. Both concerts will be able to count on some special scenery, designed by Erich Wonder.

According to the Arts Delegate, Alicia Moreno, the Jazz Festival aims to extend the Jazz music throughout the city and spread its contagiousness among the citizens of Madrid.

In addition, the Live Music Concert Halls Association (La Noche en Vivo), will offer up to 250 concerts distributed among 17 concert halls, such as the Café Central, the Clamores concert hall, the Segundo Jazz or the Berlín Café.

Finally, the Carlos de Amberes Foundation and the Cultural Centre Nicolás Salmerón join the Festival as the new headquarters of this edition. They will show a cinema and jazz music cycle with a special programme based on the American filmmaker John Cassavetes and another one based on the movies in which the composer George Delerue took part.

To listen to the best Jazz in Spain come to Madrid. Look for the best accommodation and lodging in an Apartment in Madrid. Enjoy your time in the city.